Research Data: Save, share, collaborate

​During the research project, storage solutions and back up are needed. Usually there is also a need to share the data with colleagues. When selecting storage solution, the following should be paid attention to:

In most cases, the storage services provided by ÅAU meet the needs for the storage of personal data and sensitive/confidential data. Read more about information security and storage solutions, and data protection, and instructions for classification and handling of information at ÅAU on the intranet (login required).

Personal user accounts in commercial services, such as Dropbox and GoogleDrive, are not recommended for storing and sharing research data. Please note that also USB-sticks and other portable storage units should be avoided due to the risk of data loss.

Storing and sharing during the project - raw data and processed data

• The data can be saved in the researcher's home directory (PCHOME). Large data sets that require more space can also be saved in a network drive on ÅAU's server. The network drive (PCINST) can be shared with other users at ÅAU and it fills the safety requirements for sharing sensitive data. Requests for storage space on the network drive are addressed to ÅAU's helpdesk. A similar option is Localstorage, which facilitates sharing and collaboration on a level above PCINST. 
• File sharing: to email large files, use FUNET Filesender (log in with your haka-id). (Guide on sending encrypted email, intranet.)
• Rubberstamp, a service for encrypting discussion threads, such as emails. Requires login with haka id.
• IDA storage service - for stable datasets - you can share externally with others through a link, but also store your "frozen" raw data (provided by CSC)
• Reliable external services free of charge to users at ÅAU include EUDAT:s B2DROP. Registrer as user at B2ACCESS. Get access by registering at B2ACCESS (select ”Log in with your organizational id”  > enter into search field “Åbo” > ”Authenticate” >”Register”. Then open the B2DROP page and log in with your ÅAU username. Other users can register without charge.

Tools for collaboration

• Microsoft Teams and OneDrive (for which ÅAU has licenses) can be used to share non-sensitive and non-confidential data with other ÅAU users and external users.

CSC services

• CSC offers cloud storage and environments for data-intensive calculations https://research.csc.fi/storage
• CSC offers SD (Sensitive Data) services consisting of five interoperable service components providing a secure workspace and facilitate sensitive data management, also for collaborative projects. 

After the end of the project

Check whether the funder or publisher require that research data should be stored for a specific time for verification of results. The time periods are in general discipline-specific (e.g. 3 years, 5 years, 10 years).

Sharing, publishing, opening data after the project end are described in the section open/preserve after project end.

There is a range of institutional licenses for programs for capturing, collecting and analysing data. See the ICT service information on the intranet (login required). For example, the following tools are provided:

• E-lomake for surveys - can be used also for sentitive data, since the data is stored in the ÅAU network. Guides for using e-lomake are available on the intranet (login required)
• Nvivo for analysing qualitative data (for example transcripts of interviews and other texts)
• SPSS for statistical analysis
• R is a free, open source alternative for statistical programming, recommended by ICT services and installed on many ÅAU computers
• MatLab for mathematics, graphics and programming
• GitLab for managing codes. At ÅAU Community Edition is used at gitlab.abo.fi. Log in by using your ÅAU username (LDAP tab)